Anchored By Paige Sheppard's 2:04.06, Union Catholic Knocks Six Seconds Off IMG Academy's Record, Win Millrose Rematch In 8:40.07; Natalie Dumas (600m) Mia Maxwell (60m) Run Top 10 All-Time Efforts

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

John Nepolitan photos

INTERVIEWS/ RACE VIDEOS

NEW YORK - When Union Catholic NJ anchor Paige Sheppard got the baton from Aubrey Devers in the girls 4x800 meters relay, the race was practically over.

Sheppard anchored Union Catholic to a high school record 8 minutes, 40.07 seconds in the 4x800 at the 118th Millrose Games, headlining Sunday afternoon's high school action at The Armory.

Abigail Robisky led off in 2:11.53, Sophia Thompson second in 2:09.02, Devers third in 2:15.47 and Sheppard fourth in 2:04.06 to collectively knock six seconds off of IMG Academy FL's record of 8:46.04 from last year's New Balance Nationals Indoor. 

"I'm really proud of all of them today," Sheppard. "Even though we kind of took a step back from the 4x8, it's still ours and we were ready to dominate."

Both Thompson and Sheppard were members of the 4x8 teams that finished third and second, respectively, in the past two Millrose Games. Last year's second-place finish was also to IMG Academy by three seconds. This weekend, IMG Academy finished nine seconds behind Union Catholic in second.

"I knew it was going to take a big battle," Sheppard said. "But once the girls stepped onto the track, I knew they were so composed."

Robisky sat in second behind IMG Academy's Mackenzie Winning before Thompson gave Union Catholic the lead on leg two with a four-second advantage. Danielle Graham of IMG Academy cut the deficit to two seconds on Devers during the third leg with Sheppard waiting for the final exchange. 

"When Aubrey had the baton going into the last lap of her leg, I was like, 'We're gonna win,'" Sheppard said. 

Sheppard's 2:04.06 anchor bettered her indoor best of 2:06.90 from her sophomore season. Her outdoor best is 2:01.50, which she ran at last summer's Brooks PR Invitational.

Dumas, Maxwell Run Into High School Top 10 Lists

Natalie Dumas (Eastern Regional NJ) and Mia Maxwell (Humble Atascocita TX) added their own all-time top 10 performances in their respective individual events.

Dumas, winner of three national titles at New Balance Nationals Outdoor, won the girls 600 in 1:28.10, good for fifth-fastest all-time. Dumas went through 400 in 57.28 and closed her final 200 in 30.83, holding off both Jane Hickey (Ursuline School NY) and Ellie Barada (Bloomington South IN). Hickey (1:28.26) and Barada (1:28.35) ran No. 6 and 7 all-time efforts.

Maxwell pulled away from freshman Melanie Doggett (Major Impact Track GA) in the girls 60, running 7.20 for No. 8 all-time. Maxwell also won the girls triple jump in 42 feet, 6 inches (12.95m).

Mia's twin, Mariah, broke both the facility and meet record in the girls 300, running 36.61 to beat eighth-grader Camryn Dailey (Track Xplosion NC), who ran 37.07 for second. 

Jaelyn Williams (Eastlake CA) ran a US#1 4:38.69 to win the Nike girls mile, holding off a late push from  Abigail Hennessy (Westford Acadmey MA), who ran US#2 in 4:38.70. Blair Bartlett (Lawrenceville NJ), in her first race since competing for the U.S. at the World Cross Country Championships in the U20 race, led the first half and ultimately finished third in 4:39.73, good for US#4.

Kassidy Hopkins (Bullis MD) edged out Destiny Coleman (Woodlawn MD) in the girls 60 hurdles, 8.19-8.20, then anchored Bullis to a meet record in the girls 4x200 relay in 1:36.03.

Winslow Township NJ won the girls 4x400 relay in 3:46.06, finishing five seconds ahead of Motor City Track Club MI.

Elise Schroeder (Arrowhead WI) cleared a US#2 14-0 (4.27m) to win the girls pole vault.